//------------------------------// // Chapter 6 // Story: These Dreams // by lorettafox //------------------------------// Twilight fell back asleep that late afternoon. She quickly opened her eyes once more to see she was near a lake, but not the one she had been to before. This one had a waterfall connected to it. Twilight got onto her feet and gave her wings a good old stretch. She glanced around the area but didn't spot Discord anywhere. "Discord, where are you?" she called happily. "I have such wonderful news you have to hear!" "And what news would that be?" his voice rang out. "How about you show yourself and I'll tell you." Twilight laughed. "Alright, you win." he stated as he appeared in front of Twilight. "Now, what is this wonderful news that I have to hear?" "I finally know the answer to the riddle!" Twilight said happily. "Oh? What is the answer then?" he asked happily. "It's singing! I have to sing to break you out of that stone prison!" "And how exactly are you going to do that, Twilight?" "That I really don't know, unfortunately. I wish I knew what to sing though." At that moment, Nightmare Moon appeared before Twilight and Discord. Her appearance did scare Twilight a bit. "Twilight Sparkle, you have figured out the riddle. Congratulations." Nightmare Moon smiled. "Now, you are able to free Discord whenever you wish." "But, what song am I supposed to sing anyways? The riddle sounded like I had to sing something with a high note." "Twilight Sparkle, the song must come from your heart. That will break the stone prison." said Nightmare Moon. "A song from her heart?" Discord laughed. "Discord, she's being serious!" Twilight complained. "Why are you so childish?" "Relax, Twilight. I'm only messing with you." Discord laughed as he tapped her nose, something that really annoyed her. "Discord, I hate when you do that!" Twilight yelled as she looked back at Nightmare Moon. "A song from my heart, you said?" "Yes, Twilight Sparkle. Only will a song from your heart break him free once more. I must depart now. Good luck to you Twilight and may the odds be in your favor." Nightmare Moon said as she disappeared before Twilight's eyes. "May the odds be in your favor." Twilight repeated. "The odds are in my favor tonight." she spoke as she nuzzled herself next to Discord. "You're going to free after tomorrow, Dizzy. Finally free." Discord smiled at the thought as finally being free. "To wreck havoc on all those ponies. How fun!" "No wrecking havoc on those poor ponies!" Twilight yelled. "Pranks only!" she nagged. "What are you now, Naggy Sparkle?" he laughed. "I am NOT being naggy, Discord! I am trying to get you to be a bit more responsible!" Twilight argued. "It wouldn't kill you to be more responsible, would it?" "It probably would kill me." he smiled. "I'm not the responsible type, Twilight. Remember?" "I know you're not the 'responsible' type, but it's not going to kill you to become just a bit more responsible. I can only wonder what you were like when you were ruler of Equestria..." He sighed sadly. "Not the prankster you know me as right now." "What were you? A vicious monster?" asked Twilight. "Actually yes. I was rather cruel creature until I met Princess Celestia. I stilled ruled several years after that, but I was much more kinder and simply created prank-like chaos instead." "Wow. I never knew that. How exactly were you cruel before meeting Princess Celestia?" "You know the cotton candy clouds that I use all the time that pour chocolate milk rain?" "Mhm." "Well, they used to be normal clouds that rained extremely hot tea." Twilight stared at him in horror. "You stopped after you met Celestia, right?" "Well, yeah. I found out it was better to annoy ponies instead of hurting them." he smiled. "It always better to annoy than hurt." Twilight said as she hugged him. He happily hugged her back. The next day... "Twilight! Wake up! Everyone's here!" Spike called out into her bedroom. Twilight opened her eyes weakly. "Where is everyone?" she asked. "Your family and friends. They're all downstairs waiting to see you! They keep wondering where you are!" Spike said eagerly. Twilight smiled. "Ok. I'm up, Spike. I'm up." Twilight smiled as she hopped out of bed. After she saw her family today, she was going to slip away for a little bit and free Discord. She finally figured out what song she was going to sing. It did reflect how she felt about him, after all. Twilight quietly crept downstairs and glanced below. Everyone was indeed here, even Applejack's cousin Braeburn and his girlfriend, Little Strongheart, whom was a buffalo, was there too. Twilight smiled at seeing everyone there. She walked down the stairs without caring if the stairs squeaked underneath her. Her grandmother was the first one to spot her. "Twilight dear! There you are, sleepyhead!" her grandmother said happily. "Hi Grandma." Twilight smiled back. "Princess Celestia says you've been sleeping excessively because you've been missing us?" asked Grandma Sparkle. "I-I have." Twilight stuttered. "You alright, Twi? You hesitated there for a second." said Applejack. "I'm alright, AJ. I've just been sleeping excessively." Twilight said with a fake grin. "Oh alright then, Twilight. Hopefully seeing yer family will return you back to normal." smiled Applejack. "It will." Twilight said as she turned around and saw her parents. "Mom! Dad!" "Hey there, Twilight! How have you been?" Mr. Sparkle asked. "I've been ok, Dad. Nothing really special." "Twilight, Celestia says you been sleeping day and night for the last five days. I'm worried about you." said Mrs. Sparkle. "I'm going to be alright, Mom. It's because I've been missing my family so much and I see you guys in my dreams all the time that I didn't want to leave." Twilight lied. "I hope so. We can't have our daughter sleeping all the time. She has to get back to her studies!" laughed Mr. Sparkle. "I will be getting back to my studies very soon, Dad. Maybe tomorrow or Saturday perhaps. Unless, I have plans with a special pony." Twilight smiled. "Oh, you've met a nice, young colt?" asked Mrs. Sparkle. "Who is he then? Go on, tell us!" "Well, I met him just after we sealed Discord the first time in stone." she lied. "He's really sweet, but ironically, is a prankster." "Wait, when did you meet a colt?" asked Rarity as she walked over. "I've never seen you with any colts." "That's because I've been keeping it a secret. Well, until now, that is." Twilight smiled. "Oh, a secret romance! How romantic! Who is this lucky colt by the way?" asked Rarity. "Well, he's not from Ponyville, so you don't really know him." said Twilight. "Maybe so, but what is his name?" asked Rarity excitedly. "It's ok, you can tell me and your parents." "I'd rather not say." Twilight said. "Oh. I could have helped you two somehow. Maybe we'll be be able to meet him soon, yes?" asked Rarity. "Very soon." Twilight smiled. 'I hope this time my friends will accept Discord. If not, I'll have to use a spell on them. I know I shouldn't, but I love him and I want him to be friends with my friends and family.' she thought to herself. 'Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie could pull pranks with him. Rarity could perhaps help him look better. Applejack could teach how to apple harvest. Fluttershy could show him some of the animals she has.' "Twilight? Earth to Twilight!" called a voice. "What?" Twilight said as she snapped out of her thoughts. "Twilight, you looked lost there for a second. You sure you're ok?" asked Rainbow Dash. "I'm fine, Rainbow. I was just thinking to myself is all." "Thinking? What were you thinking about, egghead?" "Stuff. Stuff you don't need to be sticking your hoof into to." Twilight said as she walked over to Little Strongheart. "Hey, Strongheart. It's been awhile, hasn't it?" "It sure has, Twilight. How are you?" Strongheart asked. "I'm almost over this sleeping condition according to the doctors I visited yesterday." said Twilight. "That's good to hear. Applejack sent word to Braeburn and he was worried about you too." replied Strongheart. Hours passed by and Twilight was having one of the best times with her friends and family. It was just shortly after the moon had risen, Luna even brought out the stars as well. Twilight and her family had just finished eating dinner, spaghetti and hay balls. They were all chatting away when Twilight decided it was time to free him. "Excuse me,, everypony. I have to go into town and do something. I should be back in twenty minutes or so." said Twilight. "Alright, Twilight. Maybe someone should go with you?" Celestia recommended. "I'll go! I'll go!" Pinkie Pie said happily. Twilight knew Pinkie Pie was the only pony who actually accepted her relationship with Discord. She smiled happily. "Sure thing, Pinkie. You can come with me and make sure I don't fall back asleep." Twilight laughed. "Okey dokey lokey!" Pinkie smiled as she and Twilight walked outside and Twilight closed the door behind them. "Where are we going to anyways, Twilight?" "You remember the promise you made me earlier this week?" asked Twilight. "Of course I do! I haven't told anypony. Nopony what so ever!" Pinkie said. "Well, I know a way to free him. That means chocolate rain once more." Twilight smiled. "Chocolate rain once more! Hooray!" Pinkie said happily when she remembered something. "But the elements are gonna be used on him again. It's certain. What are you gonna do about it, Twilight?" "You wanna know the real reason I've been sleeping so much, Pinkie Pie?" "It's because of him, isn't it?" "It is. But in my dream, Nightmare Moon came-" "Nightmare Moon was in your dreams? That's so weird!" "Pinkie! Let me go on! Anyways, she came in my dreams and delivered me a riddle from unknown pony who knew how to break the spell once more and a way that the Elements wouldn't work on him again!" "That means chocolate rain forever?" Pinkie said happily. "Yes, Pinkie. Chocolate rain forever." Twilight smiled. "We need to get to Canterlot now. I know a spell that can get us both there. You better hang onto me, Pinkie Pie." Pinkie Pie sat on Twilight's back. "All ready to go, Twi!" Twilight sighed. "We're off to Canterlot!" Her horn began to glow as the two ponies disappeared from Ponyville. They both reappeared in Canterlot, more specially the gardens. "Well, we're here, Pinkie. Could you help me find the statue?" "Found it!" Pinkie Pie said happily. "Already?" Twilight said as she walked next to Pinkie. "Well, it's the only one with a magical barrier surrounding it." laughed Pinkie. "Well, none of the other statues have any creatures in them." Twilight laughed for a moment before turning serious. "Stand back, Pinkie. I don't know if this is actually going to work." "What are you gonna do?" "The riddle's answer was singing. A song from the heart and I know the perfect one." Twilight smiled. "Want some music for your song?" Pinkie said, a music station in front of her. Twilight didn't ask how she got it here in the first place. "Sure thing." Twilight whispered the song into Pinkie's ear. "Ready, Pinkie Pie?" "I'm ready, sister! Sing your soul out!" Pinkie said she threw a mic to Twilight who got it with her magic. "It's time for your freedom, Discord. Your permanent freedom." Twilight said happily as Pinkie started up the music. "Tell me, how do I live without you, Discord? I want to know how I can breathe without you. How do I ever survive? Without you, there be no sun in my sky Be no love in my life If you ever leave forever, you'll take away the good in my life." Twilight kept singing Sapphire Shores' song "How Do I Live?" with an obvious replacement of names. The magical barrier around the statue began to flex unusually as if it was breaking, but it didn't want to. Twilight watched and put a bit more power into her words. The magic that was in the song suddenly came out of her horn and attacked the barrier. The barrier tried to fight back, but Twilight's song was too much for the power of the barrier, causing the entire thing to shatter. The barrier was gone, but the statue still stood. Twilight kept singing as the magic from the song flew off of her horn and attacked the Discord statue. The statue slowly began to start cracking, Twilight smiled happily and sang even more emotion into her song. The magic grew slightly more powerful, causing the statue to start cracking even faster. Twilight's song was coming to an end and the statue was almost broken. She wondered if he could come out now. She sang the last note of the song and the magic finally cracked and made the entire stone statue crumble and fall to the ground, now just pieces of rubble. The destroying of the stone caused a cloud of dust to appear, causing Twilight to look away but she was able to call out, "Discord, you're free! You're finally free!" she said with a slight cough. The smoke cleared and Twilight looked in the direction of where the statue was happily, expecting him to stand there or doing some silly pose. Her mouth dropped when she didn't spot him at all. "Discord! I don't have time for your stupid pranks! Show yourself!" she yelled. "Hey, who is in the gardens?" yelled an angry voice. It was one of the royal guards. "Twilight!" Pinkie whispered. "We're gonna be in huge trouble if they catch us!" she sounded scared. Twilight looked at the rubble and at Pinkie. "Hang on to me, Pinkie. We have to get out of here!" Twilight tried to cast the spell to transport them both back to Ponyville, but she couldn't! "Oh no, I can't cast the spell! It looks like we have to take to the skies, Pinkie! Hang on!" Pinkie clinged onto Twilight tightly as she gained full speed and opened up her wings and flew up into the sky. "That's the pony who was in the gardens! After her!" one the gurads called from below. "She's broken the Discord statue as well! She must be captured at all costs!" "Oh no, Oh no! Pinkie Pie, we can't get caught! What are we going to do?" Twilight panicked. "Wait, look up there Twilight!" Pinkie Pie said as she looked up. Twilight looked up to see a cloud above her. It wasn't no ordinary cloud, it was pink! "A cotton candy cloud! We just might be saved!" she shouted as she flew up towards the cloud. "You will not get away with this, mare!" a guard flying after them shouted. "Discord, if you can hear me, please help us, please!" Twilight pleaded aloud, desperately. "Please, Discord! I approve of your relationship with Twilight and chocolate rain! The chocolate rain! Please help us!" Pinkie screamed aloud as well. Twilight made it to the top of the cloud and stood on it and lowered herself, Pinkie still holding on just in case they had to fly off again. "There she is and she has an friend as well!" a guard shouted. "Surround the cloud so they can't fly away!" "No. Discord, help us, please!" Twilight screamed again. "There's no where to fly! We have you surrounded, mares!" a guard shouted. "Oh no. We're gonna get thrown in prison and Celestia is gonna hate me! What do I do?" Twilight panicked. "Someone call for a little rain of chaos?" called out a voice. "Yes! Please, don't let them capture us, please!" Twilight cried out as she hid her head and Pinkie did the same thing. "As you wish, my dear." replied the voice as the guards suddenly were poofed down to earth and were stuck in bubble gum. Twilight and Pinkie heard noises from below them, so they both slightly lifted their heads and glanced over the side of the cotton candy clouds. They saw the guards that had been chasing them, trapped in bubblegum. "We're saved!" Twilight said happily. "Discord, where are you? I wanna thank you properly." she smiled. "Yum! Cotton Candy!" Pinkie said happily as she shoved a hoof full into her mouth. "Oh, what's the fun of being proper now?" his voice taunted. "Can I at least see you?" Twilight laughed. "Fine." his voice sounded annoyed by the request. A flash of light appeared before the two ponies and out of the light appeared Discord, the god of disharmony and chaos. "Discord!" Pinkie Pie and Twilight said happily together. He sat on the cloud next to the two ponies. "Hello Twilight and Pinkie Pie. It seems not just only one pony wanted to see me." he laughed. "Are you kidding? I've been wanting these cotton candy clouds back!" Pinkie said happily. Discord laughed happily. "I can see that." he suddenly felt a hoof tapping on him. He turned around to see it was Twilight, tears in her eyes. "You ok, Twilight?" "I can finally have you again." Twilight cried happily. "You're finally free, forever. I've missed you so much, Dizzy." she said as she hugged Discord with all her might. Discord laughed as he hugged Twilight back. "I've been missing you as well. Now I'll never have to worry about the Elements of Harmony or the princesses turning me back into stone for the millionth time!" "Awww...that's so sweet!" Pinkie Pie said happily. "Hey, shouldn't we get back to your family before they start worrying?" "Oh no!" Twilight panicked. "I will they react if they see you come through the door, Discord?" "Not to worry, my dear. I know a spell that will get your family, friends, and the princesses to expect me and you together." smiled Discord. "I don't know if I would feel good about putting them all under a spell..." Twilight said. "Do you want to be together, Twilight?" he asked. "Yes, so very much." Twilight cried. "Then, no one will say that I'm a bad choice for you and you'll still have your friends." said Discord. "The only pony who probably doesn't have to affected is Pinkie Pie over there." he pointed to Pinkie, who kept eating gradually at the cloud. "I guess you're right, Discord. Promise me one thing though?" she asked. "What promise do you want me to make this time?" he asked. "That you only affect how they feel about us and you. Nothing more than that, ok?" Twilight asked. "I Pinkie Promise." Discord said. "I guess we should get home then." said Twilight. "Already taken care of." Discord smiled as he snapped his fingers and the three of them poofed away from Canterlot Gardens.